The Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Lagos Branch, has urged the Federal Government to strengthen primary healthcare, improve access to affordable treatment and address shortages in the health workforce.
The association said these measures are essential to ensuring that Nigerians can consistently access quality healthcare services across the country.
The call was made by the Lagos Branch President of MWAN, Dr Ime Okon, during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday ahead of Nigeria’s 66th Independence anniversary.
Health Insurance Expanding Access to Medical Care
Okon identified the expansion of health insurance coverage as one of the positive developments in Nigeria’s healthcare sector under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
She said compulsory health insurance enrolment had enabled more Nigerians to plan and pay for healthcare in advance rather than relying entirely on direct payments whenever they needed medical attention.
According to her, the development has helped improve access to healthcare while reducing the financial pressure associated with out-of-pocket medical expenses.
Healthcare Financing Still Has Significant Gaps
Despite the progress recorded in health insurance coverage, Okon said Nigeria still had considerable gaps to address in healthcare financing.
She noted that the country’s insurance coverage remained only around the halfway mark, meaning a significant proportion of Nigerians still lacked adequate financial protection when seeking medical treatment.
She therefore stressed the need for continued investment and policies that would expand coverage and make healthcare more affordable for the wider population.
Health Worker Shortages Threaten Service Delivery
Beyond financing, Okon identified inadequate manpower as another major obstacle confronting the country’s healthcare system.
She said health institutions sometimes struggle to attract sufficient numbers of qualified professionals even when vacancies are available and government authorities are prepared to recruit.
According to her, the shortage of healthcare workers could undermine the benefits of investments being made in hospitals and other medical facilities.
New Infrastructure Needs Skilled Workers
Okon acknowledged that infrastructure development in the healthcare sector was progressing, with facilities being constructed and upgraded to good standards.
However, she stressed that buildings and medical infrastructure alone could not guarantee effective healthcare delivery.
She pointed out that healthcare facilities require doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory personnel and other professionals to operate effectively and provide the services for which they were established.
Nigeria Urged to Produce More Medicines Locally
The MWAN Lagos president also called for greater investment in domestic pharmaceutical production, particularly for medicines used in treating cancer and other serious illnesses.
She said increasing local production could help lower the cost of essential medicines and make treatment more accessible to Nigerians.
Reducing dependence on imported medicines, she suggested, would also support a more sustainable healthcare system capable of responding to the country’s growing medical needs.
Functional PHCs Should Remain a Priority
Okon urged the government to place functional primary healthcare centres (PHCs) at the heart of efforts to improve healthcare delivery.
She said primary healthcare facilities should be properly equipped, adequately staffed and capable of providing essential services to communities.
According to her, strengthening PHCs would help ensure that Nigerians can receive appropriate care closer to their homes while reducing unnecessary pressure on secondary and tertiary hospitals.
Stronger Health System Needed for Sustainable Care
The MWAN official ultimately called for a coordinated approach that combines affordable healthcare, expanded insurance coverage, stronger primary healthcare facilities and a well-trained workforce.
She said addressing these areas would give Nigeria a better chance of building a health system capable of delivering quality care consistently.
Okon maintained that sustained investment in both human resources and healthcare infrastructure would be critical to improving health outcomes for Nigerians.
